Bobbin guiding grate



BOBBIN GUIDING GRATE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 11, 1964 INVENTORSWHLDO HBHNKS.

BY HERMAN Hnnesmn.

WQOuM A TTORNEY Jan. 17, 1967 w. H. BANKS ETAL 3,298,166

BOBBIN GUIDING GRATE Filed Feb. 11, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITH INVENTORSWnuno HLBRNKS BY HERMAN IHHAGSMA.

mm 0411M A TTORNE Y Jan. 17, 1967 w. H. BANKS ETAL 3,298,166

BOBBIN GUIDING GRATE Filed Feb. 11, 1964 5 SheetsSheet 3 f g INVENTORSI5; WHLDO H. BANKS.

y HERMAN Hanesma.

QMQ VnM A T TORNE Y United States Patent M 3,298,166 BOBBIN GUIDINGGRATE Waldo H. Banks, Hopedale, and Herman Haagsma, Whitinsville, Mass.,assignors to Draper Corporation, Hopedale, Mass., a corporation of MaineFiled Feb. 11, 1964, Ser. No. 344,050 3 Claims. (Cl. 57-53) Thisinvention pertains to a bobbin guiding grate and, more particularly, toa guiding grate utilized to guide and feed empty filling bobbins to theconveying chain of a donning apparatus such as that shown and describedin United States Patent No. 3,077,725.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a positive, simple,and inexpensive means of guiding empty bobbins from a source of supplyonto the conveying means of the aforementioned apparatus donningmechanism.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a bobbin guidinggrate having a means cooperating therewith for supporting the reservebobbins being carried in the bobbin magazine.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a bobbinguiding grate and a bobbin conveying chain cooperating therewith whichis effective in preventing bobbins from being received in a cross overor unaligned position onto said conveyor chain resulting in thesubsequent jamming of the donning mechanism.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following more detailed disclosure.

The instant invention pertains to a bobbin guiding and supporting devicewhich is adapted to cooperate with a bobbin magazine of the type shownand described in co-pending application Serial No. 165,578, filedJanuary 11, 1962, now US. Patent No. 3,159,961. One or more suchmagazines are adapted to assemble on the carriage of a donning unitabove a dual conveyor chain which receives the bobbins from the magazineand carries them to a point where they are presented to the donningmechanism.

The conveyor belts are comprised of a plurality of interconnected linkmembers having provisions in each link for receiving and carrying anempty bobbin.

Prior to the instant invention the oriented bobbins within a magazinewere allowed to drop directly therefrom into the link members of theconveyor belts as they passed beneath said magazine. When a bobbin ispresent in the links of the conveyor belts, it restricts the dischargeof another bobbin from the supply being carried in the magazine. Thismanner of supporting the reserve bobbins in the magazine functioned withsome degree of success but left something to be desired with regard tothe ease and smoothness of the conveyor belt travel. The reserve bobbinswithin a magazine are caused to rise and settle intermittently as thelowermost bobbin therein is caused to ride up over and then drop betweenthe butts of the bobbins being carried by the conveyor chain. Althoughthe bobbin channels within the magazine are spaced so that all reservebobbins will not rise and settle simultaneously, the spacing is notsufficient to permit the conveyor chains to run smoothly and with thesame amount of force acting upon them continuously. Another undesirablecondition which exists with this method of feeding bobbins to theconveyor chains is the cross-over of bobbins or misaligned bobbins onsaid conveyor chain resulting in the subsequent jamming of the donningmechanism. Prior to the instant invention the dual conveying chains werespaced so that the aligned link members supported a bobbin adjacent eachend thereof. In the event a bobbin should not drop freely onto theconveying means, such for example, as

3,298,166 Patented Jan. 17, 1967 the tip portion dropping before thebutt portion, the moving conveyor chain will move said tip portion andthe butt portion will then drop into the link following its properposition on said conveying means. This condition creates what is termeda cross-over bobbin and the subsequent jamming of the donning mechanism.

The mechanism according to the instant invention has eliminated theaforementioned conditions by providing a combined novel bobbin guidingand supporting means which is adapted to cooperate with the bobbinmagazines to furnish bobbins to the conveyor belts of the donning unit.

The guiding means includes a plurality of spaced grid members the endsof which are supported by the sides of the carriage of the donning unit.The grid members are superimposed above the conveyor chains and extendtransversely thereof. The bobbin magazines assemble on the carriage inthe usual manner which positions the grid member directly below saidmagazines. The spacing of the grid members is arranged to conform to thechannel walls of the magazines thereby forming guide slots through whichthe bobbins must pass before being received into the aligned sockets ofthe conveyor belts. The conveyor belts have been repositioned so as tosup port each bobbin very near what is considered the center of gravity.The grid members serve to guide the bobbins to their proper position onthe conveyor belts and the relocating of said belts prevents theso-called cross over bobbin condition. If the tip of a bobbin drops downbefore the butt portion, the conveyor chain simply passes beneath thebobbin and fails to move the tip portion thereof.

The bobbin supporting means comprises a plurality of individualpivotable bobbin gate members which are suspended from the lower portionof the individual grid members. When bobbins are present on the movingconveyor chains, the gate members are swung upwardly to a nearlyhorizontal position and rest on the shank portion of the bobbins in saidchains. When in this position; the gate members support the reservebobbins being carried in the magazines and permit the conveyor chains tomove more smoothly than has been heretofore possible. The gate membersbeing held in a substantially horizontal position by the shank portionof the bobbins support the reserve bobbins in the magazines in a mannerwhich does not cause them to rise and settle intermittently as was thecase with the known means of support where the reserve bobbins were indirect contact with the bobbins in the conveyor belts. As one bobbinmoves from beneath a particular gate member the next bobbin on theconveyor will have been in contact with said gate to maintain it in itshorizontal position, thereby permitting the conveyor to move moresmoothly beneath the reserve bobbins. When bobbins are lacking on theconveyor, the gate members swing downwardly to their suspended positionand permit reserve bobbins to pass through the guiding slots formed bythe grid members.

The invention will be described hereinafter in greater detail byreference to the accompanying figures of drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a donning unit showing afew of the combined bobbin guiding and supporting members according tothe invention as applied thereto; 1

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 but showing the addition ofbobbins to the conveying means and their relation to the guiding andsupporting members;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of three guiding grid members showing the guidingslots formed therebetween through which bobbins must pass before beingreceived onto the bobbin conveyor belts; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. I.

Now referring to the figures of drawing, FIGS. 1 and 2 show aportion ofa donning unit which includes a carriage having opposed side walls 11and 12 which extend upwardly therefrom.

A bobbin magazine 13 which is adapted to carry a plurality of orientedfilling bobbins 14 therein assembles on the upper surfaces of side'walls 11 and 12 and is retained thereon by means of a clamping bar 15attached to side wall 12 and spring biased clip members 16 extendingupwardly from side Wall 11. Both the clamping bar 15 and spring biasedclip members 16 have surfaces which conform to the configuration of thelowermost sides of the magazine 13 thereby retaining said magazine byclamping pressure and yet making it readily removable for replacementpurposes.

The bobbin conveying means comprises a pair of link type belts 17 and 18mounted on and movable lengthwise of the carriage 10. The belt membersbeing formed of links are formed in such a manner as to provide sockets19 (FIG. 4) to receive and hold bobbins and to convey them to a position(not shown) where they are presented to the donning mechanism. Thesebelts 17 and 18 move simultaneously and are driven in such a manner thatthe sockets 19 of one chain are always in alignment with the sockets ofthe other.

The bobbin guiding means according to the invention comprises aplurality of spaced grid members generally indicated by numeral 20 whichare superimposed above the conveying link belts 17 and 18 and extendtransversely thereof. These grid members extend between side walls 11and 12 and are supported by the latter in a manner which permits thebobbin magazines to be mounted directly over said grid members. The endsof the grid members are provided with integrally formed lug members 21and 22 of reduced thickness which serve to support said members byassembling in vertically disposed and aligned slots 23 and 24 providedin the upper portion of side walls 11 and 12, respectively.

Each grid member is provided with integrally formed and laterallydirected bobbin positioning and restraining ribs generally indicated bynumeral 25. The plurality of grids being juxtapositioned andsuperimposed above the conveyor belts form guiding slots therebetweenthrough which the :bobbins must pass before being received onto saidconveyor belts. These positioning and restraining ribs serve to guideand restrain the individual bobbins against lateral movement as they arereceived from the magazine and caused to pass therebetween. A generallyU-shaped rib 26 being centrally disposed with respect to the length ofthe grid serves to guide and restrain the shank portion of the bobbinswhile a similar rib 27 disposed intermediate rib 26 and lug member 21serves to guide and restrain the tip portion of the bobbins.Intermediate rib 26 and lug member 22 a single vertically disposed andlaterally extending rib 28 is provided which serves to guide a bobbinagainst lateral movement as well as to restrain it axially (FIG. 3). Acentrally disposed and longitudinally extending rib 29 interconnectsribs 26, 27, and 28 and aids in strengthening the grid members. Thegrids being of a cast construction, the primary purpose of rib 29 is toprevent distortion of said grids during the cooling period after beingformed.

The carriage 10 is adapted to support more than one magazine with a fullcomplement of bobbins in each and accordingly, there are providedspecial grid members such as those depicted by numerals 30 and 31 inFIG. 3 which have their bobbin guiding and positioning ribs formed onone side only.

These special grid members are positioned directly beneath the sides ofadjacent magazines being supported by the carriage and being disposed inthe manner shown in FIG. 3, the guiding slots formed on either sidethereof are .4 spaced so as to be in vertical alignment with the endbobbin channels of said adjacent magazines.

The bobbin supporting means according to the instant invention comprisesindividual pivotable gate members generally indicated in FIGS. 1 and 4by numeral 32. These gate members are suspended beneath the grid membersand are suitably attached to a longitudinally extending pin 33. One endof pin 33 is journaled in an appropriate aperture below and in verticalalignment with slots 24 provided in the upper portion of side wall 12.The opposite end of pin 33 is journaled in an aligned aperture providedin the lower central portion of the grid immediately adjacent to rib 26.That end of the gate member 32 adjacent rib 26 extends downwardlybetween the conveyor belts 17 and 18 as at 34 and is provided at thisportion with integrally formed and laterally extending spaced wallmembers 35 and 36. These spaced wall members are adapted to contact thebobbins being carried by the conveyor belts to swing the gate member toa bobbin supporting position in a manner to be more fully explainedhereinafter. A pivotable gate extension 37 assembles between and at thelower portion of the wall members 35 and 36 by means of a pin 38 (FIG.4) passing through said extension and the ends thereof being journaledin aligned apertures provided in said wall members.

Although the preferred form of the invention consists of individuallycast grid members, it is to be understood that the plurality ofindividual grid members utilized could be cast as a single unit in theform of a grate which would overlie the entire carriage 10 and wouldfunction to guide and restrain the bobbins in the same manner as saidindividual grid members.

In operation, the magazines being supported by the side walls of thecarriage have their bobbin retaining channels in vertical alignment withthe guiding slots formed between the plurality of grid memberssuperimposed over the conveying belts 17 and 18. The lowermost bobbin ineach channel of the magazines is permitted to pass through the guidingslots and into its proper position on the conveyor belts. At this timethe weight of the reserve bobbins is on the aligned bobbins positionedon the conveyor belts. When the donning apparatus is put into operation,the conveyor belts are caused to move in the direction of the indicatingarrow depicted in FIG. 4. The bobbins being carried by the conveyorbelts contact the pivotable gate member swinging them to a nearlyhorizontal position as shown in FIG. 4. When the gate members are inthis position, the weight of the reserve bobbins is resting and is beingsupported by the upper surface of said gate members. As the conveyorbelts continue to move the bobbins move under the gate extension 37 andbefore passing beyond the limits thereof the bobbins following will comeinto contact with the wall members 35 and 36 to maintain a particulargate member in its bobbin supporting position.

As long as bobbins are present on the conveyor belts and said belts aremoving in the direction of the indicating arrow shown in FIG. 4, thegate members 32 remain in a generally horizontal position to support thereserve bobbins in the magazines. The absence of bobbins on the conveyorbelts allows the gate members to swing downwardly to that position shownin FIG. 1 and as depicted by that gate member on the left side of FIG.4.

The pivotable gate extensions 37 are made from cast iron or steel andhave sufficient weight to assure a quick return of the gate members to avertical position when bobbins are lacking on the conveying belts.

When the gate members swing downwardly to this position, they permitreserve bobbins to drop into the conveyor belts and continued movementof the latter will again swing the gate members to that position tosupport the remaining reserve bobbins.

The pivotable gate extensions 37 are pivotable in a clockwise directionand in addition to serving as an extension for the gate members, theyWill permit the conveyor belts to be moved in a reverse direction shouldthe need be required.

The opposed side Walls 11 and 12 are selectively adjustable in avertical direction to provide a means Whereby the space between thelower surface of the grid members and the bobbins being carried in theconveyor belts may be varied to obtain the desired amount of clearancethere'between.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to beunderstood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number ofWays. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precisedetails described, but is intended to embrace all variations andmodifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and thescope of the claims.

We claim:

1. A bobbin guiding grate for a machine adapted to move along a spinningframe to don empty bobbins on a row of spindles carried by said spinningframe, said machine including a carriage, said carriage adapted tosupport a bobbin magazine, and a conveyor belt movable over saidcarriage and beneath said magazine and having sockets to receive thebobbins from said magazine for carrying and presenting them to a donningmechanism, said guiding grate including a plurality of spaced gridmembers extending transversely of said conveyor belt forming openingstherebetween for guiding the bobbins from said magazine into the socketsof said conveyor belt, means associated with said grid members forsupporting the reserve bobbins carried in said magazine, said meansdefining individual pivotable gate members suspended from each said gridmembers and adapted to be acted upon by the bobbins being carried bysaid conveyor belt.

2. A bobbin guiding grate for a machine adapted to move along a spinningframe to don empty bobbins on a row of spindles carried by said spinningframe, said machine including a carriage, said carriage adapted tosupport a bobbin magazine, and a conveyor belt movable over saidcarriage and beneath said magazine and having sockets to receive thebobbins from said magazine for carrying and presenting them to a donningmechanism, said guiding grate including a plurality of spaced gridmembers extending transversely of said conveyor belt forming openingstherebetween for guiding the bobbins from said magazine into the socketsof said conveyor belt, means associated with said grid members forsupporting the reserve bobbins carried in said magazine, and a furthermeans associated with said first mentioned means for providing anextension of the latter and to permit said conveyor belt to be moved ina reverse direction.

3. A bobbin guiding grate for a machine adapted to move along a spinningframe to don empty bobbins on a row of spindles carried by said spinningframe, said machine including a carriage, said carriage adapted tosupport a bobbin magazine, and a conveyor belt movable over saidcarriage and beneath said magazine and having sockets to receive thebobbins from said magazine for carrying and presenting them to a donningmechanism, said guiding grate including a plurality of spaced gridmembers extending transversely of said conveyor belt forming openingstherebetween for guiding the bobbins from said magazine into the socketsof said conveyor belt, means associated with said grid members forsupporting the reserve bobbins carried in said magazine, and a furthermeans associated With said first mentioned means for providing anextension of the latter and to per-mit said conveyor belt to be moved ina reverse direction, said further means defining a pivotable weightedmember effective in urging said gate members to a nonsupporting positionwhen bobbins are absent on said conveyor belt.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,077,725 2/1963Du Buis et al. 57-53 3,088,267 5/1963 Tsukurno et a1 5753 3,159,96112/1964 Banks 57-53 X 3,164,946 1/1965 Du Buis et a1 5753 FRANK J.COHEN, Primary Examiner. J. PETRAKES, Assistant Examiner.

1. A BOBBIN GUIDING GRATE FOR A MACHINE ADAPTED TO MOVE ALONG A SPINNINGFRAME TO DON EMPTY BOBBINS ON A ROW OF SPINDLES CARRIED BY SAID SPINNINGFRAME, SAID MACHINE INCLUDING A CARRIAGE, SAID CARRIAGE ADAPTED TOSUPPORT A BOBBIN MAGAZINE, AND A CONVEYOR BELT MOVABLE OVER SAIDCARRIAGE AND BENEATH SAID MAGAZINE AND HAVING SOCKETS TO RECEIVE THEBOBBINS FROM SAID MAGAZINE FOR CARRYING AND PRESENTING THEM TO A DONNINGMECHANISM, SAID GUIDING GRATE INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SPACED GRIDMEMBERS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID CONVEYOR BELT FORMING OPENINGSTHEREBETWEEN FOR GUIDING THE BOBBINS FROM SAID MAGAZINE INTO THE SOCKETSOF SAID CONVEYOR BELT, MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID GRID MEMBERS FORSUPPORTING THE RESERVE BOBBINS CARRIED IN SAID MAGAZINE, SAID MEANSDEFINING INDIVIDUAL PIVOTABLE GATE MEMBERS SUSPENDED FROM EACH SAID GRIDMEMBERS AND ADAPTED TO BE ACTED UPON BY THE BOBBINS BEING CARRIED BYSAID CONVEYOR BELT.